Rugby star Alastair Hignell talks about living with MS

The former rugby international and commentator Alastair Hignell has spoken of how he came to terms with living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

He gave his inspiring speech to sixth former students at the Reading Blue Coat School on Friday.

Hignell was selected to play rugby for England, aged 19, and also played cricket for Gloucestershire. He studied at Cambridge University, and moved into journalism and commentating for BBC Radio.

However, in 1999 doctors told him he had MS, a disease of the central nervous system. He told pupils he'd been through various stages initially ignoring the condition, to anger, understanding and eventually acceptance.

Head of Sixth Form Dr Kevin Magill said: "At some point life will throw things at you and what Alastair has said to you today will really strike a chord."

Year 13 pupil Morgan Barker-Thorne said he'd found the talk 'interesting and inspirational.'

Hignell became Patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre and continues to raise funds for the charity.

In 2008 he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.